Ratchet-type wrench



Sept 24, 1963 D. E. HAENNI ETAL 3,104,570

RATCHET-TYPE lWRENCH med Jan. 11, 1961 United States Patent O 3,104,570 RATCHET-TYPE WRENCH David E. Haenni, 310 4th Ave., and John W. Haenni, 496 Ave. G, both of Sterling, lll. Filed Jan. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 81,968 7 Claims. (Cl. 81-126) This invention relates to improvements in ratchebtype wrenches.

An important object of this invention is to provide a ratchet-type wrench which is of simple and economical construction and which is reliable in operation.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a ratchet-type wrench including a xed jaw and a movable jaw, and having an improved arrangement fork mounting the movable jaw movement toward and away from the fixed jaw and which automatically locks the movable jaw against movement when the wrench is turned in one direction and releases the movable jaw to enable the latter to move away .from the Xed jaw, when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ratchet wrench in accordance with the foregoing objects and which is adjustable to accommodate different sized workpieces.

An important feature ofthis invention resides in the use of an over-center linkage for mounting a movable jaw member for movement relative to a fixed jaw member, and which linkage is operable to automatically lock the movable member against movement when the wrench is turned in one direction, and to release the movable jaw and enable movement of the same away from the xed jaw When the wrench is moved in the opposite direction.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection With the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a ratchet wrench embodying the present invention, `and with part of the side cover plate broken away to illustrate the details of construction;

lFIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wrench taken on the plane 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the wrench, illustrating the position of the movable jaw member dur-ing ratcheting of the wrench; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the modified form of wrench.

The wrench includes a body and, in the form shown, the body includes an elongated central bar 11, and spaced side plates 12 and 13 which are secured to the opposite sides of the central bar as by fasteners 14. As shown in FIGURE l, fasteners 14 are in the form of countersunk nat-headed screws. The wrench of the embodiment of FIGURES l-3 is of the double ended type having lined and movable jaw members at each end of the body. The jaw members are similarly constructed and are dimensioned l-for use on relatively different size workpieces, such as nuts or bolts 16. For convenience, the same numerals are used to designate corresponding parts at each end of the wrench and the parts at one end of the Wrench are differentiated from the other end by the use of the designation More particularly, the wrench includes iixed jaw members 17 and 17 dening jaw faces 13 and 18' respectively. As shown in FIGURES l `and 3, the jaw members are of the box-end type which encircle the heads of the -workpieces 16, it being apparent that the jaw members could be opened at one side or the other of the respective jaw f-aces 18 and 18. Movable jaws 19 and 19 are mounted on opposite ends of the wrench body for limited movement toward and away from the respective 3', l 045 Patented Sept. 24, Yl 963 ICC fixed jaw faces 18 and 1S. For this purpose, recesses or cavities 2l and 2l are formed in opposite ends of the central bar 11, with the outer ends of the recesses opening into the workpiece receiving openings formed by the respective jaw members 17 and 17. The cavities 21 and 21' are each d-i-mensioned at the outer `ends 22 thereof to guidably engage the outer end of the respective movable jaw member therebetween and to support the outer end of the ja-w member for movement toward and away from the iixed j-aw member. The inner ends of the cavities 21 and 21 are relatively wider than the inner ends of the respective jaw members to permit the inner ends yor' the jaw members to swing crosswise of the wrench body. As will be noted from FIGURE 2, the side plates 12 and 13 engage opposite faces of the movable jaw members to guide the inner ends :thereof during movement crosswise of the wrench body.

The inner ends of the movable jaw members 19 and 19 are swingably mounted on the body by means of an overcenter type linkage 25 and 25', respectively. The linkages each include a pair 'of` spaced links which are pivotally attached at one end `by means of la ,pin 26 to an em Z7 on the .inner end of the respective movable jaw member. The end of each link is pivotally attached by a pin 2.8 to an ear 2.9 carried by the wrench body. The linkage swingably supports the inner ends of the jaw members for movement between ya position such as shown in FIGUR-E l and the position shown at FIGURE 3, yand a stop is provided for limiting swinging movement of the movable jaw members in one direction to a position in i which a line through the pivot pins 28 and 26 intersects the jaw face 31 on the respective movable jaw member. In the form shown, one side ,32 of each of the cavities 2i and 21 are shaped to engage the respective movable jaw member and limit swinging movement of the same in one direction to the aforedescribed position, -as shown in lFIGURE 1. The jaw faces 31 on the movable ljaw members are shaped so as to extend substantimly parallel to the respective fixed jaw face 1% and 18', when the movable jaw member is against its stop, so that the xed and movable jaw members iirmly clamp opposite sides of the workpiece lo therebetween. A. spring 33 is provided `for yieldably urging the jaw member toward its stop and, as shown, the spring is of the leaf type and Ihas an eyelet at one end which is supported in a socket 34 formed at one side of the cavity 21 in the end of the Wrench. The spring engages the movable jaw lmember adjacent to its inner end 'to yieldably urge the sam-e against the stop face 32.

When the wrench is turned in one direction, for example in a clockwise direction, about its upper end as viewed in FGURE l, the workpiece 16 applies pressure to the movable jaw face 31 at a point designated a which is oset to lone side of the line through the pivot pins 26 rand 28 and therefore presses the jaw member firmly against the stop 32 soy that the latter is locked against movement away from the lixed jaw face 13. However, when the Wrench is turned in the opposite direction, that is in a counter-clockwise direction about Vits upper end as viewed in FIGURE 1, the workpiece applies pressure to the jaw face 3K1 at -a point such as b which is'oliset to the other side of the line through the pivot pins Z6 and @S and which therefore presses the jaw member away from the stop 312 to a collapsed position `such as shown in FIGURE 3. This allows the wrench to ratchet relative to the workpiece 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-3, provision is made for adjusting the movable jaw members in a direction toward and away from the respective ixed jaw members to accommodate different size workpieces. A common adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the jaw members at opposite endsof the double-ended -which is attached to the other jaw member .19 is formed on the other end of the rod. The rod is threaded as indicated at 41 along a portion of its length and a knurled nut 42 is -threaded on the rod. The bar I11 is formed with recesses 43 and 44 intermediate its ends, which recesses intersect the groove 39 and dene shoulders 45' and 46 engageable with opposite ends of the nut 42 to prevent axial movement of the same. As shown in FIGURE 2, the nut 42 projects through openings 4S in the opposed side plates 12 and 13 to enable manipulation of the nut. Turning of the nut shifts the rod 38 longitudinally in a direction toward and away from the xed jaw faces 18 vand 18 and correspondingly shifts the movable jaw members to laccommodate different size workpieces. Necessarily, the sides of the rigid jaw members 17 and 17 which extend between the jaw faces 18 and 1S and the cavities, respectively 21 and 21', are made suiiiciently large to accommodate the largest size workpiece that can 'be handled by that end of the Wrench, and to enable turn- 'ing of the workpiece therein, as the wrench ratchets relatively to the workpiece.

The wrench shown in FIGURE 4 is similar to the embodiment of FIGURES l-3 and includes an elongated body 51 having a recess 52 extending inwardly of one end thereof and sideplates 53' overlying opposite sides of the recess to deiine a cavity for receiving the movable jaw member 54. A lixed jaw member 55 is formed on the end `of the Wrench and delines a fixed jaw face 56 which is spaced from the outer end .of the recess 52, and away from the face 57 of the movable jaw member. The outer end of the recess 52 is dimensioned to guidably support the outer end of the movable jaw member 54, and the inner end of the jaw member is swingably mounted by means of links 58 on the body 51. As shown, the links S are connected by a pin 59 to an ear 61 on the inner end of the movable jaw member, and by a pin 62 to an ear 63 on the tbody. The side 64 of the cavity defines a stop which engages the movable jaw member to limit vmovement thereof in one direction to a position in which a line through the pivot pins 59 and 62 intersects the jaw face 57. A leaf spring 68 has one end 69 thereof mounted on the body and the other end arranged to engage the inner end of the movable jaw member to yieldably urge the same against the stop 64.

As is apparent from FIGURE 4, the iixed jaw face 56 is disposed at a Isubstantial angle to the longitudinal axis of the body 51 and the fixed jaw member is open at one side of the jaw face 56. The jaw face S7 on the movable jaw member is shaped to extend substantially parallel to the fixed jaw face, when the movable jaw member engages the stop 64, so as to engage opposite sidesl of the workpiece `16 therebetween. When the Iwrench is turned in a clockwise position as viewed in FIGURE 4, pressure lis applied to the movable jaw face 57 at one side of the line through the pivot pins 59 and 62, so as to lock the movable jaw member against the stop and thereby enable turning of the piece 16. When the wrench is moved in the other direction counterclockwise as viewed in FIG- URE 4, pressure is applied to the movable jaw at the other side of the line through the pivot pins 59 and 62 so that the movable jaw is pressed away from the stop 64 -and the jaw swings about the link 5S to the dotted `line position shown in FIGURE 4. As the jaw member Aswings to the dotted line position, it is retracted inwardly in a direction away from the lxed jaw face 56 so as to enable the wrench to turn relative to the workpiece.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation and construction of the wrenches will be readily understood. When the wrench is turned in one direction relative to the workpiece, pressure is applied to the movable jaw turned in a relatively opposite direction, pressure isv applied to the movable jaw at the other side of the line through the pivot axes of the over-center linkage so as to move the jaw member away from the stop. As the inner end of the jaw member swings about the over-centerl linkage, it is retracted inwardly of the cavity and away from the fixed jaw face so as to enable the workpiece to turn between the tixed and movable jaw faces. embodiment of FIGURES l-3, the movable jaw members are adjustable to a limited extent in a direction toward and away from the fixed jaw faces so as to accommodate different size Workpieces. As will be noted, the doubleended construction of FIGURE l is so arranged that a single adjusting mechanism operates to adjust both movable jaw members.

We claim:

l. A ratchet-type wrench comprising an elongated body having a cavity opening at one end thereof, means de'ln-` ing a iirst jaw spaced from the end of said cavity, a movable jaw member disposed in said cavity and having a second jaw face on the outer end thereof, a link pivotally attachedat one end to the inner end of said jaw member,

means pivotal-ly attaching the other end of the link to said v body to swingably support the inner end of said jaw member on the body, said cavity being shaped to guidably engage the outer end of the jaw member whereby the second jaw face on the jaw member moves toward and away from the iirst jaw face `as the inner end of the jaw member pivots onrsaid link relative to said body, stop means on the body engagea-ble with the jaw member for' one end of said handle portion, an elongated movable jaw.

member having a second jaw face adjacent one end and a length which is long as compared to the width of said second jaw face, means mounting said movable jaw mem? ber on said body for movement in response to the pressure-s applied by a workpiece engaging sai-d second jaw face between a tirst position in which said second jaw face extends generally parallel to said iirst jaw face and is spaced a preselected distance therefrom to grip the workpiece therebetween when the fwrenc-h is turned in one direction and a second position in which said second jaw. face is tilted out of parallelism with said first jaw face and is spaced therefrom a distance greater than said preselected distance to allow the workpieceV to turn relative to the jaw Afaces when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, said last mentioned means including attrst guide means on said 'body slidably supporting said one end of the movable jaw member on said -body for movement in a direction 4generally lengthwise of the jaw member toward and away from said iirst jaw face and also pivotally Y supporting said one end of said movable jaw member on said body to permit limited lateral swinging movementy of t-he other end of said movable jaw member as thev jaw member moves betweenv said iirst and second positions,

stop means on said body engageable with said movable jaw member when the latter reaches said lirst position for limiting lateral swinging movement of said other end of said movable jaw member in one direction, means yield- In the ably urging sai-d movable jaw member toward said rst position and against said stop means, said mounting means also including a second guide means engaging said other end of said movable jaw member for controlling endwise movement of said movable jaw member and operative to position said second jaw face said preselected distance from said first jaw face when said movable jaw member is in said iirst position against said stop means and for retracting said movable jaw member away from said first jaw face as said `other end of said movable jaw member swings laterally away from said stop means to said second position.

4. A ratchet type wrench comprising, an elongated body having a handle portion and a first jaw face adjacent one end of said handle portion, an elongated movable jaw member having a second jaw face adjacent one end and a length which is long as compared to the width of said second jaw face, means mounting said movable jaw member on said body for movement in response to the pressures applied by a workpiece engaging said second jaw face between a rst position in which said second jaw face extends generally parallel t0 said iirst jaw face and is spaced a preselected distance therefrom to grip the workpiece therebetween w-hen the wrench is turned in one direction and a second position in which said second jaw rface is tilted out lof parallelism with said iirst jaw yface and is spaced therefrom a distance greater than said preselected distance to allow the workpiece to turn relative to the jaw faces when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, said last mentioned means including =a first guide means on said body slidably supporting said one end of the movable jaw member on said body for movement in a direction generally lengthwise Iof the jaw member toward and away from said first jaw face and also pivotally supporting said one end of said movable jaw member ion said body to permit limited lateral swinging movement of the other end of said movable jaw member as the jaw member moves between said first and second positions, stop means on said body engageable with said movable jaw member when the latter reaches said iirst position for limiting lateral swinging movement of said other end of said movable jaw member in one direction, means yieldably urging said movable jaw member toward said iirst position and against said stop means, .said mounting means also including a link pivotally attached -at one end to said other end of said movable jaw member, said link being short as compared to the distance between said second jaw face and the point lof attachment of the link to the movable jaw member, means pivotally attaching said other end 'of the link to said body for controlling endwise movement of said movable jaw member andl operative to position said second jaw ltace at said preselected distance from said first jaw Vface when said movable jaw member is in said irst position against lsaid stop -means .and for retracting said movable jaw member away from said rst jaw face as said other end of the movable jaw member swings laterally away from said sto-p means to said second position.

5. A ratchet type wrench comprising, an elongated bo-dy Ihaving a handle portion and a iiiist jaw adjacent one end of said handle portion, an elongated movable jaw member having a second jaw `face adjacent one end and a length which is long as compared to the width of said second jaw rface, means mounting said movable jaw member 'on said body [for movement in response to the pressures applied by a workpiece engaging said second jaw face between a first position in which said second jaw face extends generally parallel to said iirst jaw face and is spaced a preselected distance Ithererom to grip the workpiece therebetween when the wrench is turned in one direct-ion and a second position in which said second jaw face is tilted out of parallelism with said first jaw face and is spaced therefrom a distance greater said preselected distance to allow the workpiece rto turn relative to the jaw faces when the wrench is turned in the oppo- CII ber toward and away from said iirst jaw face and also pivotally supporting said lone end ici said movable jaw member `on said body to permit limited lateral swinging movement of the other end iof said movable jaw member as the jaw member moves between said first and second positions, stop means on said body engageable with said movable jaw member when the latter reaches said first position for limiting lateral swinging movement of said other end orf said movablejaw member in one direction, means yieldably unging said movable jaw member toward said first position and against said stop means, said mounting means also including a link pivotally attached at `one end to said other end of said movable jaw member, said link being short as compared to the distance between said second jaw face and the point of attachment oi the link to the movable jaw member, means pivotally attaching said other end olf the link to said body ttor controlling elndwise movement of said movable jaw member and loperative to position said second jaw :face at said preselected distance dirom said iirst jaw face when said movable jaw member is in said first position against said stop means and for retracting said movable jaw member away from said iirst jaw lface as said other end tort the movable jaw member swings laterally away :from said stop means to said second position, the pivot connections of the link to the movable jaw member and to the body being located such that a line through the pivot connections intersects the second jaw face when said movable jaw member engages said stop means.

6. Tlhe combination of claim 5 wherein said means pivotally attaching said link to said body includes means for adjusting the piviot connection of the link to the body in a direction toward and away from said rst jaw face to accommodate different work pieces.

7. A ratchet type wrench comprising an elongated body having a cavity opening at lone end thereof, means deiininlg a iirst jaw iace spaced from the end off the cavity, an elongated movable jaw member disposed in said cavity and having Ia second jaw face on the outer end thereof and a length which is long as compared to the width of said second jaw face, means mounting said movable jaw member lon said body lfor movement in response to pressures applied by a workpiece engaging said second jaw face between a first position in wlhich said second jaw -face extends generally parallel to said first jaw `face and is spaced a preselected distance therefrom to grip a workpiece therebetween when the wrench is turned in one direction and a second position in which said second jaw face is tilted out of parallelism with said vtirst jaw face and is spaced therefrom a distance Igreater than said preselected distance to allow the workpiece to turn relative to the jaw faces when the wrench is turned in rthe opposite direction, said l'last mentioned means including first and second guide wallls on said cavity slidably supporting said outer end of said movable jaw member on said body for movement in a direct-ion generally lengthwise of the jaw member towand and away from said first jaw if-ace and also pivotally supporting said outer end of said movable jaw member to permit limited late-ral swinging movement of the inner end of said movable jaw member as said jaw member moves between said first and second positions, said first guide wall deiining a stop face engageable with said movable jaw member when che latter reaches said iirst position Ifor limiting lateral swinging movement lof said inner end of said movable jaw member in one direction, said second guide wall being kspaced from said inner end of said movable jaw member when the latter is in said iirst position, means yieldably ringing said movable jaw member toward said rst position and against said stop means, said mounting means also including a link pivotally attached at one fend tothe inner end 8 of said jaw member, means pivotally attaching the other 1,060,513 Tish Apr.y 29, 1913 end olf said link to said body for controlling endwise 1,321,236 MCCraith NOV. 11, 1919 movement of said movable jaw member, the pivot con- 1,326,172 Boehm -2-; Dee. 30, 1919 nections of said link to said movable jaw member and 1,406,755 Peters Feb. 14, 1922 to the body being located such .'that line through the pivot 5 2,470,007 Watson May 10, 1949 connections intersects the second jaw face when said mov- 2,536,463 Ratlff Ian. 2, 1951 able jaw member engages said stop means. 2,577,888 Greathous Dec. 11, 1951 2,602,362 Johns July 8,1952 References Cited in the le of this patent 2,692,522 .Reyner oet. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 FOREIGN PATENTS A Y 396,877 Kennedy Ian. 29, 1889 592,199 Fletcher .Octl 19, 1897 683,323 Gfeat BT11121111 Mal- 4, 1953 776,063 Hok@ Nov. 29, 1904 69520' Denmark JUIY 18 1949 n 992,913 Seils |May 23, 1911 

1. A RATCHET-TYPE WRENCH COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING A CAVITY OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF, MEANS DEFINING A FIRST JAW SPACED FROM THE END OF SAID CAVITY, A MOVABLE JAW MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID CAVITY AND HAVING A SECOND JAW FACE ON THE OUTER END THEREOF, A LINK PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE INNER END OF SAID JAW MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHING THE OTHER END OF THE LINK TO SAID BODY TO SWINGABLY SUPPORT THE INNER END OF SAID JAW MEMBER ON THE BODY, SAID CAVITY BEING SHAPED TO GUIDABLY ENGAGE THE OUTER END OF THE JAW MEMBER WHEREBY THE SECOND JAW FACE ON THE JAW MEMBER MOVES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FIRST JAW FACE AS THE INNER END OF THE JAW MEMBER PIVOTS ON SAID LINK RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, STOP MEANS ON THE BODY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE JAW MEMBER FOR LIMITING SWINGING MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, AND MEANS YIELDABLY URGING THE JAW MEMBER TOWARD SAID STOP MEANS. 